“The team had two experiences with the games in Dortmund and Leverkusen, where we were a bit back, we played with a decimated squad with few options to change (players), 120 minutes in (German Cup 5-3 penalty win) in Leverkusen and it was also a demanding, tight game in Dortmund. In those games we came closer together as a group, and this could obviously help us in our game against Porto. And the situation in regards to the injuries is not as bad so it’s about building a strong unit with the players who are there. So because we had a good past experiences in Dortmund, Leverkusen, and also against Frankfurt, so we trust ourselves and have trust in our team.”

2. REPORTERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE

STORY: Bayern Munich may have been ravaged by injuries ahead of their Champions League match at Porto on Wednesday (April 15) but the squad’s sense of unity is stronger, midfielder Thomas Mueller said on Tuesday (April 14).

The Bavarians, chasing three titles this season, are without Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba among others for the quarter-final first leg match in Portugal.

Bayern beat Dortmund in the Bundesliga before edging past Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup last eight on penalties and looked unaffected by the absences. They also beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 on Saturday April (11).

“The team had two experiences with the games in Dortmund and Leverkusen, where we were a bit back, we played with a decimated squad with few options to change (players),” Mueller told reporters ahead of the Champions League match on Wednesday (April 15) at Porto.

“In those games we came closer together as a group, and this could obviously help us in our game against Porto. And the situation in regards to the injuries is not as bad so it’s about building a strong unit with the players who are there. So because we had a good past experiences in Dortmund, Leverkusen, and also against Frankfurt, so we trust ourselves and have trust in our team,” Mueller added.

Five-times champions Bayern will rely heavily on the scoring prowess of Mueller and Robert Lewandowski in the absence of Robben and Ribery as Pep Guardiola looks to become the first coach to beat Porto in the Champions League this season.

Twice winners Porto won four matches and drew twice in the group stage before crushing Basel 5-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.